It did rain.

It rained all night, and in the morning Elaine wandered into the kitchen with a high fever.

"Put her to bed now," commanded Eilonwy. Gwen left breakfast and obeyed.

When Elaine was settled, Gwen sat beside her on the edge of the cot. It had been over two weeks since Elaine had heard of Lancelot's death, and in all that time she'd hardly eaten. She had dark circles under her eyes, and her flushed face looked weak. Gwen could hardly bear to see it.

"I dreamed of him last night," murmured Elaine. "I dreamed I was home by the grey towers, and I laid down in a boat and floated down to Camelot, and he was there."

Guinevere's blood ran chill. The girl had been dreaming fondly of death.

After a few minutes Eilonwy arrived in the room carrying a tureen of steaming broth, which she set on the little bedside table. Gwen moved to a chair and allowed Eilonwy to sit beside Elaine.

"I want you to drink this broth," said Eilonwy rather firmly.

"Thank you," said Elaine faintly. "But I'm so tired. Can't I rest first?"

"No you can't," snapped the older woman. Guinevere jumped at the sharpness of her tone.

"Elaine," said Eilonwy, "you are dying, and you've got to stop it now. You are holding on to loving someone who is gone. He is gone, and he has been gone for a long time. You are holding on to something in your head so tight that it is killing you. If you don't let go you are going to die. I want you to stop it. You let him go! Do you hear me? You let him go."

Elaine looked at the older woman with wide, frightened eyes. And then a few tears squeezed out of them.

"No," whispered Elaine. "No. I don't want to stop loving him. I won't."

"You let him go," said Eilonwy again. "You make that choice. I know that you understand me. You make that choice, and you let him go, and you live. You belong in this world. You've work to do. You've songs to sing. You've children to bear. You make that choice. You are not meant to die for love."

Elaine turned her face away and wept.

"You let that go," said Eilonwy again. She gently ran her fingers through Elaine's beautiful hair. "Let it all go, child. It's time you learned to love yourself."